Washington Wizards Star Anthony Davis To Sit Rest Of Season, Focus On Full Recovery

Grant AfsethFebruary 6, 2026February 6, 2026

NBA: Anthony Davis warms up on the court at Chase Center before the Dallas Mavericks game against the Golden State Warriors

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Washington Wizards are moving decisively toward a long-term outlook for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, with both Anthony Davis and Trae Young unlikely to factor meaningfully on the court.

Before national reporting crystallized the situation, DallasHoopsJournal.com reported that Davis was not expected to play much, if at all, for the rest of the season, a view that has since been reinforced across the league. That expectation was confirmed this week when Chris Haynes reported that Davis is expected to sit out the remainder of the season to fully recover and target a healthy return in 2026–27, with mention of a hand and groin injury.

Young, meanwhile, has yet to make his Wizards debut and is also not expected to play much—if at all—over the balance of the season as Washington proceeds cautiously with his recovery and broader roster strategy. Together, the parallel situations underscore a franchise-wide emphasis on draft positioning rather than short-term results.

A Hand Injury With Deep Roots for Anthony Davis

Davis’ current hand situation is not isolated. He has dealt with multiple left-hand issues over the course of his career, dating back to his early seasons in New Orleans. In his second NBA year, Davis missed significant time with a fractured hand and additional problems involving his left index finger, part of a broader cluster of upper-extremity injuries that season.

Those early incidents are often cited by medical analysts as the beginning of a recurring hand history rather than a one-off injury.

That context resurfaced this season. On Jan. 8, 2026, while with Dallas, Davis injured his left (non-shooting) hand while defending Lauri Markkanen late in a road loss to Utah. He exited the game in visible pain, and subsequent imaging confirmed ligament damage.

Initial team-facing reports suggested a roughly six-week absence with no surgery anticipated, pending re-evaluation. However, alternative league reporting framed the injury as more severe, with some projecting a months-long recovery and the possibility that Davis would be finished for the season if surgery were pursued.

By mid-January, Davis was listed out indefinitely, with recovery timelines ranging from weeks to several months depending on treatment direction. He chose not to undergo surgery.

Washington’s decision to shut him down now effectively resolves that uncertainty.

Anthony Davis’ Groin Issues Add to the Calculation

The hand injury alone did not drive the Wizards’ decision. Davis has also navigated a long history of groin and adductor problems, an area that has repeatedly flared up across multiple teams and seasons.

His most notable groin injury came during the 2021 playoffs with the Lakers, when a left groin strain suffered in Game 4 against Phoenix altered the series. Davis later acknowledged that injury as the primary reason Los Angeles lost after leading 2–1.

Since then, similar issues have recurred. After arriving in Dallas in 2025, Davis quickly suffered a left adductor strain that sidelined him for 18 games. He elected not to undergo surgery and finished the season, which ended in play-in tournament elimination in Memphis. On Christmas Day 2025, he exited a game after pulling up in transition, later diagnosed as a minor groin strain. Injury-tracking analysts have noted that episode marked roughly the 13th groin injury of his career.

Teams have typically managed those injuries conservatively, often listing Davis as day-to-day while holding him out for extended stretches even on lower-grade strains. Combined with the hand ligament damage, the cumulative picture made a shutdown the most straightforward path forward.

Trade Context and Immediate Fallout

Washington acquired Davis as part of a three-team trade with Dallas and Charlotte, a deal that reshaped the Mavericks’ roster and future asset base. Dallas sent Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Danté Exum to Washington, while acquiring Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Marvin Bagley III, two future first-round picks, and three second-rounders, in addition to Tyus Jones via Charlotte.

Davis averaged 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds in 29 games with Dallas before the hand injury derailed his season. The Mavericks, already dealing with other long-term injuries, pivoted toward financial flexibility and long-range planning in the aftermath of the deal.

Reaction, Reporting, and Organizational Tone

Following the trade, questions quickly surfaced about Davis’ outlook in Washington. Chris Mannix reported that Davis “likely isn’t enthusiastic” about joining the Wizards, a sentiment Mannix reiterated publicly.

Davis pushed back on that characterization in comments to The Athletic, saying reports of his displeasure were overstated and emphasizing that his initial meetings with ownership and the front office had been positive.

At the same time, league sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Davis was genuinely surprised by the trade and that similar sentiments to Mannix’s reporting circulated around the league in the immediate aftermath.

Regardless of tone, the on-court reality now takes precedence. With Davis sidelined, Washington can proceed without ambiguity about his availability while focusing on long-term roster evaluation and development.

Looking Ahead to 2026–27

Davis remains under contract for next season and holds a player option for 2027–28. By opting for rest and rehabilitation now, the Wizards are effectively betting that a full offseason and uninterrupted recovery process will offer the best chance for him to return closer to full strength next year.

For a franchise in transition, clarity may be the most valuable outcome. Davis’ shutdown removes weekly uncertainty, aligns medical timelines, and reframes his role as a future-focused piece rather than a short-term solution.

Whether that future ultimately unfolds in Washington or elsewhere will depend on health first. For now, the Wizards’ course is set: no shortcuts, no rushed returns, and a full reset aimed squarely at 2026–27.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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